January 2010

January 27, 2010

An electronic tablet device from Apple primarily for browsing the web, reading e-books and watching video.

Well, here we have it! It has a name (iPad). It has a design (a giant iTouch), a chip (A4), an operating system (from the iPhone), a price ($499-$829) and an online store (iBooks). There. Finally. No more rumors. No more hype. Well, probably lots more hype. Steve Jobs is nothing short of masterful.

About 6 hours ago, I wrote a blog post about the unprecedented build-up to today's announcement. We didn't know anything of what the previous paragraph above describes. Just a bunch of guesses.

So, the question is...what's everyone think? Is this an iPod or a Newton? Home run or dud? There's no phone and no camera in the iPad. It also doesn't view flash, so any website you visit that uses flash won't display it. It reads books in black and white. It's not quite the Harry Potter device that was prophesied. Not yet, anyway. On the other hand, it's going to do some really cool things. And I'll bet the iBook store will blow away Kindle's awkward store, if we can even call it that. The $499 price point puts this within reach of a lot of early adopters. And watch for the price to come down to $399 within a year. That's Apple's M.O.

Some will criticize the iPad's name. But, give it a few weeks and it will be in the permanent lexicon of anyone age 12-24 and will be in place and a power brand name for the rest of our lives. I'd put my kids' college money on it. Oh yea, what college money? I've been spending it on all these amazing "must-have" devices. Hey, retirement's over-rated.

Come March, chances are I'll be watching or reading something on my new Apple device. Care to join me? My iPad or yours?

By the time you read this post, the big news might be out. You'll know what Apple's "big surprise" was that they plan to announce today at their conference. Is it a tablet device? Will Verizon be able to sell the iPhone? Is it both? Apple has the entire nation - maybe the entire world - on the edge of our seats. Just how do they do this...and, is it wise?

You'd have to be hiding under a rock not to know something big is about to happen today. Apple's PR (or news leaking) organization has been in full gear. You'd think they hired a group of political operatives, not a top marketing firm. Maybe they did. Here are some of the things I've seen or heard in the last week or so - all coming to a head today:

Front page stories in newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal, about a "possible" big product announcement

New stories about rumors of Apple going to publishing houses and offering better deals than Amazon's Kindle, which is fueling expectation that Apple's product will have a book-reading feature, an iTunes-like web interface store and have photo/video capability within the reader

Radio and TV interviews with tech specialists simply hypothesizing about what the product might be, guessing at all sorts of things - almost hoping - and raising consumers' expectations to wild levels

Irish and British betting houses taking bets on what the product will be or even what the product will be called...iPage, iReader, iTablet, iSlate, Etch-a-Sketch (500 to 1 odds), etc.

News channel reporters on location at the Apple conference and live streaming feeds from the events. Look for heavy Twitter traffic.

OK. So, why all the commotion? Simple reason. Because most of what Steve Jobs has brought out in the last few years has been beyond successful. Apple's new devices have excited our imaginations and changed the very way we interact. They're breakthrough, functional, easy and beautiful. They're expensive, but somehow we pay up and Apple's profits soar. They probably deserve it. Obviously, the media - and now all of us - are hoping and praying that there's another miraculous product coming our way. Don't we need it, too? With the war, the economy, the environment, the earthquake. During these times, we yearn for distractions, like Avatar, a new Dan Brown book or...a new product from Apple. It's not that we're insensitive, I think we're just human.

Now, is Apple's whipping up the world a wise strategy? Are they setting expectations too high? After all, if the product isn't all the things dreamed about, won't people be disappointed? Look at Google's new phone. All the hype and only 20,000 of them sold in the initial weeks. The difference, of course, is Apple's track record on execution. Lots of companies have big ideas. Few - if any - execute as well as Apple. Fast, efficient, flawless. Or, if there are flaws, quick response.

Apple's strategy is a risk, but probably worth it. As I said, you'll probably know by the time you read this post. They've gained millions upon millions of dollars worth of free publicity by stoking this fire. Clever. They have competitors shaking in their boots. Bold. What I really love about all of this is that an American company is pushing the envelope and propelling the market forward. It's good for Apple, good for our economy, good for our country, and ultimately, it's good for us, right? We get new toys we didn't even know we needed. That's how innovation works. Here's to great expectations!

January 03, 2010

To inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence. To stimulate by assistance or approval. To promote, advance or foster.

Good day! A Word on Marketing is back after a well-needed rest, having completed 365 consecutive blog posts. Now that we're back at it, please don't expect a post every single day, but I'll do my best to publish a few every week.

What could be a better word to start out a year, especially 2010? A new decade is upon us. Last year we were in a deep recession and this year, we appear to be headed out, though some industries more slowly and the job market's still tight. But no matter what your circumstance, you can say you made it through 2009 and the "O's". Perhaps a few battle scars to show, but we're here. Now.

So what's next? You have a choice. A conscious choice to have a "dis" in front of your words this year or not. Are you going to be discouraged or encouraged? When you talk to others, are you going to discourage them (take the courage out of them - literally) or are you going to encourage them (put courage into them - literally)? Are you going to put negative-ness into your office, home and this world - or are you going to put positive-ness out there? Your answer will affect your - and many others' - success and health. Make the right choice.

Life is not just about us. About me. It's about everyone around us, too. Promote...and you'll see promise. Foster...and you won't fail. Go 2010. Go us!

And, by the way, thanks again for reading! Please make comments to make it a conversation! Just look for the tiny little "comment" button right below this post.

Matthew Kelly: The Dream ManagerKelly tells the story of a company that becomes devoted to helping employees attain their dreams outside of the office. Then you are challenged to create a program like it for your company.